Introduction to Feminism

Everyday Sexism

Watch the Everyday Sexism TED talk from Laura Bates (linked above) and answer the following questions:

1) Why did Laura Bates start the Everyday Sexism project?

After being sexually harassed herself, she realised that women suffering from sexual harassment has been normalised and so Laura created the project for people to voice their experiences to spread awareness.

2) How does the Everyday Sexism project link to the concept of post-feminism? Is feminism still required in western societies?

The Everyday Sexism project links to post-feminism as it proves that feminism is still needed today due to the daily experiences of women being sexually harassed. Feminism is still required in Western societies as women are still oppressed under patriarchy, despite some of the legal equalities gained in recent decades.

3) Why was new technology essential to the success of the Everyday Sexism project?

It allowed women from all over the world to spread awareness of and contribute to the project.

4) Will there be a point in the future when the Everyday Sexism project is not required? What is YOUR view on the future of feminism?

I would like to think that there will be a point where sexual harassment awareness campaigns such as Everyday Sexism will not be necessary, however, I believe until there is a more politicised and ideologically coherent wave of feminism, this will not happen. 

Media Magazine: The fourth wave?

Read the article: The Fourth Wave? Feminism in the Digital Age in MM55 (p64). You'll find the article in our Media Magazine archive here.

1) Summarise the questions in the first two sub-headings: What is networked feminism? Why is it a problem?

Networked feminism aims to tackle social equality issues found both on, and using, modern technology. This is a problem as the previous waves of feminism have not all been able to fix their problems before the next waves which causes problems in perceptions of feminism and what it means. Some of the waves have achieved their goals and the future of online communication makes it really easy to instantly get messages across. However the term and concept of feminism has become blurred over the years as it has become prone to being compared to the suffragettes and man haters. This is a misconception as the term holds the ideas of anarcha-feminsm, liberal feminism and post modern feminists who generally have quite different views on what should be achieved or what should be done to achieve a specific type of equality which has caused a stigma to grow around the use of the word feminism.

2) What are the four waves of feminism? Do you agree that we are in a fourth wave of ‘networked feminism’?

First: Suffragettes
Second: 1960's - 1990's Equality
Third: Post modern feminism 1990's - present
Fourth: Network feminism 2010 - Ongoing


I somewhat agree as there is an emphasis on using the internet and social media to spread awareness and push for greater equality and change in societal beliefs.

3) Focus on the examples in the article. Write a short summary of EACH of the following: Everyday Sexism, HeForShe, FCKH8 campaign, This Girl Can.

Everyday Sexism: A place where people can post their or others experiences with sexual harassment of any kind to spread awareness of this type of treatment sill occurring towards women around the world.

HeForShe: focuses on male support for gender equality, highlighting the fact that feminism is not about promoting matriarchy, but solidarity. This explicitly non-man-hating version of feminism, in which a woman can be successful in more than one aspect of their life, seems to remove the element of misandry that has blighted traditional feminism for so long.

FCKH8 campaign: the ‘Potty Mouth Princess’ YouTube video that went viral. The movement focuses on the modern representation of girls and the huge social inequalities they face, whilst featuring young girls ‘F-Bombing’ to highlight society’s imbalance when it comes to offences. The video is a complete paradigm shift in the representation of young girls. The existence of young, strong fighting women confronting issues such as pay inequality, rape culture and the sexualisation of women in this engaging way is new to the 21st-century feminist movement.

This Girl Can: has been described as the first fitness campaign for women which doesn’t shame or exclude them, by sharing photos, videos and quotes of women without the usual sexual exploitation of a women’s fitness advert and without body shaming.

4) What is your opinion with regards to feminism and new/digital media? Do you agree with the concept of a 'fourth wave' of feminism post-2010 or are recent developments like the Everyday Sexism project merely an extension of the third wave of feminism from the 1990s?

I believe that although the internet has given women a chance to connect and discuss their shared experiences of misogyny, especially sexual harassment and assault, which has helped to cause social changes, there is no fourth wave of feminism.